My pre-new year’s resolution is to keep this blog up to date a bit more, so here’s my first weekly update! I reckon if I start now then I'm more likely to actually keep going with it when January rolls around...

​First off, for anyone who’s seen me in real life in the last few months this isn’t exactly news, but I posted my first bump pic on social media this week! The ultimate WIP:

 I’m due at the start of April, another little girl. I’m going to need all your suggestions for cute baby knitting patterns. And words of advice for carrying on a business with a baby and a preschooler roaming the house! The cardi in the picture is my Courie In Cardigan - "Courie In" is Scots for "snuggle up", seems pretty apt to me!

​I finally finished off my sweater in gorgeous Zakami Cashmere Aran yarn this week, here’s a wee sneak peek:

 This yarn was sooo luxurious to knit with, I have fallen completely in love. They also have the same fibre blend in dk, fingering and laceweight so there will definitely be more Zakami Yarn in my stash in the springtime! The pattern is in the works so anyone who’s looking for a test knitting project should keep their eyes on my social media! I’m still deliberating over a name for this one, all suggestions gratefully received. It was loosely based on my Lochnagar Top, but I’m not sure if just calling it Lochnagar Sweater is too lazy? Let me know what you think!

Aaaand, when one project finishes another begins! I’ll be holding together stunning Eden Cottage Yarns Lowther Lace in colourway “Ink” and Titus 4ply in colourway “Penine Mist” together for a fluffy, lacy, snuggly cardigan for the winter months – pure luxury. ​

The Lowther Lace is a gorgeous blend of Baby Suri Alpaca and Silk – it’s maybe just my opinion but I think this is fluffier and softer than mohair silk lace. The Titus Fingering is a merino silk blend with amazing shine - love how the shine of the fingering and the fluff of the lace look together. 

​Here’s how it’s looking so far – just the back shoulders at the moment. ​

If you like the lace pattern you can also find it in my Aonach Cardigan and Suilven Hat and Cowl. I’m going to pick up stitches at the shoulders and work down the fronts, joining at underarm. The lace will finish in a bit of a zigzag design before working most of the body in stocking stitch. 

The Littletheorem Knits Black Friday Sale is here, with all my patterns 50% off with  so I’m highlighting some of my favourite patterns to tempt you all!

Burrell Sweater is a super simple, oversized cropped sweater that’s maybe the most flattering garment I own. Super comfy, super cozy and looks amazing – your wardrobe needs this!
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The Burrell Collection is an amazing museum and art gallery in the middle of Pollok Park in Glasgow. Truly a world class museum in an enormous country park – it honestly feels like you’re in the middle of the countryside complete with forest, Highland Cows and a stately house with manicured gardens. And the best part is it’s a minute’s walk from my house, we’re living the dream!

A stunning shawl with an unusual and beautiful stitch pattern, Beinn Ghlas is perfect gifting material too with Christmas just around the corner. This light and airy shawl will definitely become a firm favourite. There’s include instruction for two sizes. The smaller size only uses around half a skein of yarn, making it super quick to knit. The larger size still uses less than a skein of laceweight yarn, but is a little more luxurious to cuddle up in!

​Bracklinn is a super cosy sweater with cute button details at the side of the body. I knit this when my wee one was just a newborn for breastfeeding, but this is perfect winter wear for anyone. Who doesn’t love buttons?
​ 
Inspired by my Bracklinn Crop, it’s the same lace design and yoked construction, but in a chunkier yarn. It’s top down, totally seamless and available in nine sizes. After we work the beautiful lace yoke, we work the front and the back of the body separately down to the hem – with buttonholes on the front panel and buttons on the back. We then work the sleeves down to the cuffs. We also include instructions for a buttonless version if preferred.

​Maybe the cutest hoodie of all time? Hoodiesaurus is a simple garter stitch hoodie with a twist – spines! I designed this for my baby daughter but I think the appeal is universal so I graded it for adult sizes too. Instructions are given for 17 sizes from newborn to 150 cm/60” chest. I've included instructions for optional waist and sleeve shaping, and for two sizes of buttonhole if you don’t like toggles.

​Strathclyde is a gorgeous, extra long cardigan with a cosy double moss stitch shawl front and an intricate cabled design – can you believe it's already a year since this was released? Slipped, twisted stitches in the cables are designed to look great in handdyed yarn. It’s a top down, totally seamless cardigan with ¾ length sleeves. Both written instructions and charts are given for all the cable patterns, and it has instructions for 8 sizes to fit a 75 – 150 cm/30 – 60” bust.
This is the sister pattern to our Strathearn Cardigan. Strathearn is a beautiful part of Scotland that we visited often before the pandemic hit. I knit the bulk of this cardigan during lockdown so the name is for somewhere a bit closer to home – Strathclyde.

​Tentsmuir Sweater is a super simple oversized cropped sweater that’s maybe the most flattering garment I own. Super comfy, super cozy and looks amazing – your wardrobe needs this!
 
Tentsmuir is a beautiful pine forest near where I grew up - we always try to go back for a visit every autumn when it’s looking its best. It’s always filled with the most amazing mushrooms, and it feels like you’re in a forest from a fairy tale! The name seemed totally fitting for this deep green sweater – the yarn colourway is even called “Pines”.

​Liathach Cowl, a stunning mohair silk cowl with an unusual and beautiful stitch pattern. This light and delicate cowl will definitely become a firm favourite. This shawl is a full 40 cm x 150 cm/16” x 60” but uses less than 50g of yarn, making this super quick to knit – perfect for gifting with Christmas just around the corner!
 
Liathach means “the grey one” and is an imposing mountain in the North of Scotland with spectacular spire -like pinnacles. We climbed it on a foggy day and it was like scaling the outside of a cathedral surrounded by mist, unable to see the ground. An unforgettable day and an inspiration for this airy grey cowl.

We’ve just released our Glen Shiel Cardigan knitting pattern! It’s classic cardigan with a pretty lace pattern and a cosy shawl front. The lace pattern is simple and straightforward, and it knits up fast with DK yarn and larger needles. This is a perfect winter warmer – one you’ll want to snuggle up in every day! Available in eight sizes to fit bust from 30 – 60”.
 
This cardigan is worked in one piece from the hem up to the underarms, then stitches are divided and we work the two fronts and the back separately, then we rejoin fronts and back with a three needle bind off at the shoulder. Pick up stitches round the armhole for sleeves which are worked flat and seamed, and to finish off pick up stitches round the front of the cardigan for a shawl collar. Shown in size 85-90 cm/34-36” on a model with 34” bust.

Here's the nitty gritty details:
Yarn: Wool and the Gang Sugar Baby Alpaca (100% Baby Alpaca 116 m/127 yds per 50g) DK weight
Colourway: Margaux Red
Meterage 850 (950, 1125, 1290, 1500, 1690, 1930, 2150) m
Yardage 935 (1045, 1240, 1420, 1650, 1860, 2130, 2365) yds
 
Dimensions (Metric)
To fit bust: 75-80 (85-90, 95-100, 105-110, 115-120, 125-130, 135-140, 145-150) cm
Across Back: 40 (45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75) cm
Length Armpit to hem:46 (46, 49, 49, 52, 52, 55, 55) cm
Upper Arm Circumference: 30 (35, 35, 40, 40, 45, 45, 50) cm
Sleeve Length 48 (48, 51, 51, 54, 54, 57, 57) cm
 
Dimensions: (Imperial)
To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56, 58-60)”
Across Back: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30)”
Length Armpit to hem:18.5 (18.5, 19.75, 19.75, 22, 22, 23.25, 23.25)”
Upper Arm Circumference: 12 (14, 14, 16, 16, 18, 18, 20)”
Sleeve Length 19 (19, 20, 20, 21.5, 21.5, 23, 23)”
 
Needles: 5 mm/US 8, 100 cm/40” circular needle, set of 5 mm/US 8 DPNs or spare 5 mm/US 8 circular needle
 
Gauge: 16 sts and 26 rows = 4”/10 cm in main lace pattern after blocking.
 
Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, holder or waste yarn for holding live stitches.
 
It’s available on Etsy, Ravelry and here on our website.

We’ve also got a fab test knitting opportunity!

Dip in the Lily Pond is a pretty hat pattern in an unusual stitch pattern. A versatile knit with a wide range of sizes from newborn to adult large, and three colourwork options letting you create beautiful and unique hats for every occasion. Perfect for using mini skeins or leftover odds and ends of sock yarn too! The pattern uses dipped stitches which look just like waterlilies, hence the name of this pattern.
 
To find out more, visit our group on Ravelry. If you’d like to test knit but you’re avoiding Ravelry due to their ongoing issues with accessibility, please get in touch via email. Go to our homepage and click “contact” at the bottom of the screen.
 
For current test knitters, here’s the tutorial video:

We've just released our latest pattern - Bracklinn Crop! It's a super cute cropped tee worked from the top down with an "easier than it looks" lace pattern. Designed for mini-skein sets or leftover sock yarn - with detailed instructions on using more/fewer colours.

It's available in nine sizes too, to fit busts from 28" - 62", and it's been thoroughly tech edited and test knitted.

It's available here on our website and also on Etsy and Ravelry - use coupon code BRACKLINN50 for a 50% discount until midnight (GMT) on Wednesday 5th Aug.

We've got a few new test knits on the go at the moment too! One's sweet and simple children’s sweater with zigzag colourwork detailing. Worked from the top down using a yoked construction, this straightforward knit is totally seamless. Available in 9 sizes to fit newborns to 11 year olds:

The next is a worsted weight version of our classic winter warmer, Courie In. It's got a slightly unusual construction. Sleeves are knitted first from cuff to centre back, then both sleeves are joined with a three needle bind off. Stitches are picked up at the bottom edge from underarm to underarm and worked down to the hem to form the back. Then stitches are picked up round the front to form the garter stitch wrap front. There's instructions for nine sizes to fit busts from 26” to 60”/65 to 150 cm, and I'm looking for two testers per size ideally.

Apart from all this knitting I've been trying to chill out and enjoy month seven of pregnancy! Not always easy when your back's aching and you can't sleep due to a baby practicing for future dance-offs in the womb! Here's a bump pic, again modelling my new design Worsted Courie In!

The weather here in Glasgow's been pretty poor, even by Scottish standards! But still managed a bit of time out in the garden, there's quite a lot of veg still growing and the sweet peas are thriving!

Our latest knitting pattern is now available to download! Chance Inn Cardigan is a lightweight Summer cardigan with a stunning lace yoke. Inspired by a traditional Estonian floral lace pattern, this cardigan is a real showstopper, perfect for a special occasion.

This cardigan is worked from the top down with a yoked construction. We work the lace yoke, then divide stitches for body and sleeves, leaving stitches for the sleeves on waste yarn. We work the body down from armpit to hem with waist shaping, and finish with a few rows of twisted ribbing. We pick up stitches at the fronts for a neat edging, also in twisted rib. Then we work sleeves from armpit down to cuff. There's no seaming - it's all worked in one piece. The pattern contains both charts and written instructions for the lace section, as well as instructions for all the lace stitches required. This pattern is written for eight sizes, to fit busts from 30 - 60"/75 - 150 cm. We recommend the gorgeous but hardwearing hand dyed "Tough Sock" yarn from the Uncommon Thread, shown in colourway "Habitat", but any sock yarn that gets gauge will be just fine!

It's available to download from our website here.

Here's the nitty gritty:

Yarn: The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock
Colourway Habitat (80% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 20% Nylon)                                   
 366 m/400 yds per 100 g
600 (700, 900, 1100, 1300, 1500, 1700, 1900) yds
550 (650, 850, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600 1800) m
 
Dimensions (Imperial):
To fit bust 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56, 58-60)”
Across back armpit to armpit: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30)”
Upper sleeve circumference: 12 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)”
Yoke depth: 6.5 (6.5, 7.5, 7.5, 8.5, 8.5, 9.5, 9.5)”
Sleeve Length: 13 (13, 14, 14, 15, 15, 15, 15)”
Length Armpit to Hem: 9.5 (10.5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15)”
 
Dimensions (Metric):
To fit bust 75-80 (85-90, 95-100, 105-110, 115-120, 125-130, 135-140, 145-150) cm
Across back armpit to armpit: 40 (45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75) cm
Upper sleeve circumference: 30 (32.5, 35, 37.5, 40, 42.5, 45, 47.5) cm
Yoke depth: 16 (16, 18.5, 18.5, 21, 21, 23.5, 23.5) cm
Sleeve Length: 32.5 (32.5, 35, 35, 37.5, 37.5, 37.5, 37.5) cm
Length Armpit to Hem: 22.5 (25, 27.5, 30, 32.5, 35, 37.5, 37.5) cm
 
Needles: 4 mm/US 6 75 cm/30” circular needle
 
Gauge: 21 sts and 30 rows = 4”  in stocking stitch after blocking
 
Extras: Tapestry needle, waste yarn in a contrasting colour

We’re just back from a lovely week away in the Cairngorms. The holiday itself was great, but in knitting terms there’s been a few ups and downs! One of my very best friends has asked me to knit her a cardigan for her wedding. She liked my, Epsilon Cardigan Knitting Pattern so I’ve used the same kind of construction but amped up the lace a bit. I made a huge swatch to test that the lace worked out, but didn’t include much stockinette. How I have paid for that mistake! The gauge in my calculations was off by half a stitch in the “worked flat” sections, and by considerably more when worked in the round.

I think every knitter has probably gone through that denial of knitting a garment, especially with lace, and knowing it’s going to be the wrong size, but just thinking “it’ll all work out when I block it”. Blocking does not solve everything – it looked lovely but didn’t fit. So a week ago I had to bite the bullet and frog the stockinette. All of it. In 4ply yarn.

I’m a maths teacher, and I’m constantly saying to the kids that making mistakes is fine, you just need to learn from them. No need to get stressed, just go through it again and fix it. Maybe that has sunk in for me too, because to be honest, it was all pretty quick and painless to reknit. Being on holiday definitely helped, and we had a few bad weather days so I just curled up with a good book and my knitting and got through it.

We did manage to get lots of really nice walks in too. We’ve got a rescue Jack Russell Terrier who is very high energy so it was a real treat for her to get lots of good long hikes. The area round Aviemore is absolutely stunning too. We mainly kept to the footpaths near Loch Morlich, but every path you go down is absolutely stunning. Here’s a few highlights from the many, many photos:

And by the time we got back home, the cardigan was ready to block. Looking much better this time round! I'm writing the pattern up this week, so it should hopefully be tech edited and ready to purchase soon - I'll keep you posted!

Here's the gritty details:

For Suilven Cowl:
Yarn: Juniper Moon Herriot Fine (4ply)
Colourway Travertine (75% Alpaca 25% Nylon, 422 m/461 yds per 100 g)
1 (2) 100 g skeins = 422 m/461 yds (844 m/922 yds).
 
Dimensions: 75cm/30” (120 cm/47”) around, 38 cm/15” deep for both sizes.


and for the Suilven Hat:
Yarn: Juniper Moon Herriot Fine (4ply)
Colourway Travertine (75% Alpaca 25% Nylon, 422 m/461 yds per 100 g)
One 100 g skeins = 422 m/461 yds, with plenty of yarn left over.
 
Dimensions: Smaller size stretches to fit heads up to 54 cm/21.5” around. Larger size stretches to fit heads 55 cm/22” around and up.


and for both:
Needles: 4 mm/US 6  75 cm/30” circular needle
 
Gauge: 16 sts and 28 rows = 10cm in stocking stitch after blocking.
 
Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, one stitch marker.

Patterns include both charts and written instructions for the lace pattern. You should be able to make a hat and smaller size of cowl from a single skein and you can make a larger cowl with a hat using two skeins.